Sony unveils long awaited PlayStation 4 media remote

The cries of thousands of PlayStation fans have finally been answered! In a recent e-mail blast, Sony announced that its Universal Media Remote will be available on Amazon starting October 27th, and with a $39.99 price tag. This special accessory comes equipped with standardized DualShock 4 controller buttons, Bluetooth accessibility, twelve application presets, and the ability to control your PS4, as well as 3 other devices.

The original PlayStation 3 Media Remote was a smash hit among movie loving gamers with an easy-to-navigate classic TV remote style. It could control your television, Sony audio system, or PS3, and it provided a simpler navigation for people who couldn't wrap their heads around using the traditional DualShock 3. The PlayStation 4 Universal Media Remote takes everything good about the PlayStation 3 model, and blows it out of the water (in a good way).

Key Features:

Universal for Four Devices

The Universal Media Remote will live up to its name, providing an added bonus to the PlayStation 3 version. This new remote will control an entire home theatre: television, audio, cable box, and, of course, the PlayStation 4.

Bluetooth

"Dedicated" PS4 Buttons

The media remote for the PlayStation 3 included every button found on a DualShock 3 controller. Unfortunately, the R1, R2, L1, L2 buttons were widely considered useless because the remote also featured fast forward and rewind keys, defeating the purpose of the classic shoulder buttons.

When it came to PlayStation 4, Sony decided to do away with the shoulder keys and took a different route. Rather than including every button standardly found on a DualShock 4, the Universal Media Remote only includes the action buttons (Cross, Square, Circle, Triangle), as well as the Share, Options and PlayStation (or PS) buttons.

Don't worry! Regular remote control keys are still featured on the UMR, including fast forward, rewind, play, pause, and stop. And here's where things get...universal. The controller also features buttons labeled guide, page, info, top and pop-up menu, exit, return, and record.

Application Compatibility

From launch the UMR will be fully functional with many popular PlayStation 4 apps:

Blu-ray Disc Player

Crunchyroll

DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket

FUNimation

HBO GO

Media Player

NBA GAME TIME

Netflix

PlayStation Video

PlayStation Vue

Twitch

YouTube

The PlayStation 4 Universal Media Remote is available for pre-order on Amazon now, with the first shipment of controllers going out October 27th.